CirceMoon's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:318
- Reviews Submitted:8
- First Review:December 6, 2011
- Most Recent Review:August 20, 2012
- Featured reviews0
CirceMoon's Review History
Search for clues, solve puzzles, and unlock new areas as you visit spooky locations, master mini-games and locate Hidden Objects!
Overall rating
2
/
5
20 of 32 found this review helpful
Not Up to Par
PostedAugust 20, 2012
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I have to say I am surprised by all of the glowing reviews of this game, as it doesn't even rate average in my book.
The story (which is nonsensical) involves you playing as a woman in search of her husband who vanished one night. You drive to the town where he grew up and search for clues to find him and solve the mystery of his past and present. You are helped by a strange doll that occasionally will give you hints.
The majority of the game is hidden object scenes with the occasional puzzle thrown into the mix. The hidden object scenes are all junkpile and none are interactive. The scenes repeat throughout the game, the items stay in their original locations, and you often end up finding the same object several times. The graphics in these scenes really aren't up to par, and in many cases appear dingy and slightly blurry.
The plot of the story is completely linear, and you generally use inventory items that you find straightaway. There isn't any real room for exploration or discovery. As I said earlier, the plot is essentially nonsensical. You never learn enough about any of the characters to actually care for them, and the story isn't compelling enough to make you want to see what happens next.
In terms of length, the game plus the bonus chapter took me only three hours, and I am not a fast player in general. The bonus chapter simply used the same junkpile hidden object scenes from the main chapter (generally with the same items on the list to find) and offered no new areas to explore or puzzles to solve.
One last complaint: the game crashed twice while I was playing it. Two crashes in three hours are far too many.
All in all, this game is just not up to par with the quality of most hidden object games released today. There are just so many better ways to spend your money than on barely mediocre games like this.
I don't recommend this game.
Join Claret and a lovable cast of characters explore, build and battle your way through a tale of magic, metal & mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
The Best Casual RPG I Have Played
PostedJuly 15, 2012
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Let's face it, many RPGs tend to be more "labors of love" than "just plain fun." How may RPG fans have slogged through 50-100 hours of a single game just to finally be able say that we finished the darn thing? I know I sure have. Sure, the games are fun, otherwise we wouldn't be fans, but with the level grinding, the maze-like dungeons, and the sometimes epic battles, it can almost seem more like work than play.
Enter Skyborn, an RPGMaker game from indie developer Dancing Dragon, and the story changes significantly. This game was just pure fun. Sure there were mazes and epic battles and the like, but it never felt like work. With a wonderfully unique story and setting, beautifully rendered environments and character art, and a host of other features, Skyborn is destined to please hardcore RPG fans and newcomers alike.
The main heroine of the story is Claret Spencer, a mechanic who accidentally gets swept up in a rebellion against the tyrannical race the Skyborn. She eventually picks up four playable companions and also meets a host of nonplayable characters, as well. All five playable characters participate in battles, so there is never the dilemma of choosing who to bench or who needs the experience points the most.
There are a few really neat features of the game that set it apart from other RPGMaker titles. For one, there is absolutely no need for level grinding thanks to the presence of "experience nodes" hidden throughout the game. You can still have all of the battles that you want, but you could level your characters pretty well without them. All monsters are visible on the screen so there are no random encounters, and they aren't overly aggressive, allowing you to choose when and if you want to fight. There are also three difficultly levels, which allow you to adjust your challenge according to your needs.
Another neat feature is the crafting system, which allows you to use materials that you find to make armor and weapons. This, combined with the generous treasure chests scattered throughout the game, makes the accumulation of gold not as big of a concern as it is in other games. This is nice because you can focus instead on the story and characters.
The graphics will look familiar to anyone who has played other RPGMaker titles like Aveyond. The graphic style is an homage to the original 16-bit 2-D games like the original Legend of Zelda. For anyone who complains about the graphics -- that is how it is supposed to look. This isn't a HOG with photorealistic artwork. It is meant to be a 2-D pixelated world.
The main game lasts about 8 hours, although there are a number of side quests that could probably at least double the play time. This is just long enough to leave the player wanting more.
The bottom line is that this is an awesome casual RPG. I recommend this heartily to RPG fans and newcomers to the genre. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Help Adda and Ciro solve a mystery and restore a garden to its former beauty in Hello Venice, an amazing Match 3 game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
A Game that I Really Wanted to Like
PostedJuly 7, 2012
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
As the title says, I really wanted to like this game, and in theory, I should have enjoyed it, I just... didn't. I generally enjoy match-3 games where you are playing with some sort of purpose, such as building a zoo (Simplz:Zoo) or a garden (Flower Paradise). The gameplay is similar to that of 4-Elements in which you clear a path for flowing water. This isn't my favorite style of M3 play, but it is not a deal-breaker by any means. There were just some things I found very frustrating about Hello Venice, such as:
-There are blocks occasionally arranged in single columns that you simply cannot break without a power-up or being very lucky. Yes, you can match blocks elsewhere to charge the power-ups more quickly, but the game restricts the amount of game board to which you have access, and sometimes it's quite difficult to make enough matches to get the power-ups to charge in a reasonable amount of time. To add to the frustration, the same block often needs to be broken two or three times, so you have to go through this cycle of recharging the power-ups over and over again.
-OK, I admit it, I am particular with my "garden design," and I expect the gardens I design in a game to match or at least have some sort of theme. Yet it seems the developers didn't give much thought to that. I started with an overall design that looked pretty nice, but then when I had to add more flowers, I realized that every option clashed horribly with what I had already purchased. This might seem like a trivial complaint, but for me, a huge part of the fun in these games is building and customizing something aesthetically pleasing. It takes some of the fun away when I can't do this.
-I started off on timed mode, but then realized after level 20 or so that I couldn't change to untimed mode without starting over completely. This is another seemingly minor complaint, but one that I found frustrating.
-There are translation issues and the English in many places contains grammatical and spelling errors. A small thing, yes, but it can't be that hard for a developer to hire a proofreader, can it?
Overall, I should have loved this game, but yet there were some things in the way that really drained the fun out of it for me. However, some of my grievances may be pretty unique to me, so I would still urge you to give it a try to see if you enjoy it.
I don't recommend this game.
Search a mysterious estate and find a brilliant and mysterious inventor in Syberia, Part 1! Experience the first part of this incredible trilogy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
43 of 51 found this review helpful
An Intense, Unforgettable Adventure
PostedFebruary 28, 2012
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I will issue this warning up front: This game is not for everyone. Syberia is an intense, challenging adventure that requires a great deal of attention, patience, and mental effort. But for those willing to put in this effort, the rewards are immense. Indeed, it almost feels wrong calling Syberia an adventure -- it's more like an experience.
You play as Kate Walker, an attorney from the US who goes to Valadilene, France, to orchestrate the sale of an automaton factory to a toy company. Of course, things don't go as planned, and Kate starts off on an epic adventure to find the missing and long-presumed dead Hans Voralberg so that the sale can proceed. Kate embarks upon this journey via train with her automaton helper, Oscar.
The game is absolutely beautiful, and also completely immersive. Throughout the game, you get to experience not only the adventure, but also Kate's home and professional life by way of phone calls with her boyfriend, mother, and bosses. You really get to know Kate in a way that you almost never do in a casual game. I know that personally there were moments in both Syberia I and II where I was cheering for Kate in excitement and moments when I felt her frustration and sadness. The game is honestly just that good.
Although I personally adore Syberia, I will admit that it is not for everyone. Before you download it, you need to understand that it is totally different from anything you've ever played. There are no hidden object scenes. There are no hints. There are no mini-games. The interface is clunky and there is no tutorial (although there are plenty of walkthroughs available). But if you're willing to put in the time and some effort, you will come away with an unforgettable experience like no other.
I recommend this game!
An evil god has made a powerful discovery, and it is up to you to prevent it from taking over the entire planet! Save the world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 32 found this review helpful
An Epic RPG Adventure
PostedJanuary 11, 2012
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
3 Stars of Destiny is a prequel to the Laxius Power and Laxius Force series of RPGs (role-playing games). Without a doubt, it is an epic RPG adventure that reminds one of the old school RPGs such as The Legend of Zelda. With countless side quests in addition to the main quest, you are looking at over 30 hours of gameplay time, which is incredible for the casual game market.
One of the areas in which the game shines is its story. You play as a team of heroes, including humans, an elf, a minotaur, a talking chameleon, and even a talking baby flame. Throughout the game, they complete quests, battle monsters, gain levels, find useful items, and show some degree of character development. The world the game inhabits draws you into it, and you become invested in it and in the characters.
However, the game isn't perfect, and there are a few things that bugged me. For one, you can't see the monsters at all, so encounters are completely unavoidable. There is an escape option, but it doesn't always work, and sometimes you are stuck fighting a battle that you don't want to fight. Not only that, but sometimes you just want to get from point A to point B without having to fight a monster every fifth step. You can control the encounter rate at the beginning of the game (manic, normal, or low), but be forewarned that the "normal" level entails fighting a whole lot of battles (I can't imagine how many you have to fight in "manic" mode!). Another flaw was that there was no shortcut system to help you warp to different places around the world. If you needed to go somewhere, it meant tromping through screen after screen of scenery. It would have been really nice to have the ability to use some sort of transport or teleport. Finally, the characters were, at times, obnoxious. I understand that they are meant to be teenagers and therefore somewhat less mature, but occasionally it was just annoying. By the end of the game, the characters mostly redeem themselves, though.
It should be noted that after the main quest has been finished and the big boss defeated, you have the option to continue playing. If you wait through the end credits and right click once you are in the character stats screen, you will end up on a beach with all of your characters so that you can finish a huge number of side quests. I was honestly not crazy about this -- once the game is over, I want it to be over, otherwise I don't feel like I'm working towards anything. But I'm sure that a lot of people will enjoy this aspect of the game, and it is nice to have the option to keep going.
The bottom line: If you enjoyed old-school RPGs such as the Legend of Zelda or if you enjoy more modern games such as the Aveyond series, you will surely enjoy 3 Stars of Destiny.
I recommend this game!
Join Myra, a young witch, on a fantastic journey to save her best friend in Grimoire Chronicles, an incredible Strategy game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
73 of 81 found this review helpful
A Stinker of an RPG
PostedJanuary 6, 2012
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Rating (for the impatient ones): 1/5
This is a RPG (role-playing game) made with software called RPGMaker, which means the graphics and sound will be familiar to anyone who has played RPG games available on BFG and elsewhere. This isn't necessarily a bad thing -- there are a lot of great games made with RPGMaker, but unfortunately, Grimoire Chronicles isn't one of them.
The plot centers around a young woman who is hunted by the church for being a witch. She is rescued by rebels and an adventure begins to overthrow the church and save the other witches. This story is almost identical to one of the Final Fantasy games (6, I think), so the plot is pretty derivative and the story isn't all that interesting. A key feature of RPGMaker games is generally the story, so when that falls flat, there is little to make a person want to keep playing.
The gameplay is also, unfortunately, uninteresting, and can get both frustrating and boring. There are usually only one to two types of monsters per area, and the monsters respawn and are often impossible to avoid. The only good thing is that the monsters are usually visible (as puffs of smoke), so you can see them, but that doesn't do you any good when the path is too narrow to avoid them anyway.
I personally love RPGs and was excited to see that BFG had added a new one. Sadly, this game is just really not very good. If you are interested in trying RPGs, start with the Aveyond series (Aveyond I: Rhen's Quest, available here on BFG, is a great game and the latest build supports both the mouse and the keyboard). The Aveyond games are great examples of RPGMaker games done extremely well.
I don't recommend this game.
Soak up the sun while building your very own paradise empire in Coconut Queen! The island of Lui Lui beckons you!
Overall rating
5
/
5
104 of 108 found this review helpful
A Wonderful Strategy/TM/Building Game
PostedDecember 6, 2011
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Coconut Queen is, hands down, my favorite game on BFG. It is the only building simulation of which I'm aware where you have total control over where and what you build. In addition, it blends in simulation, a great deal of strategy, and time management gameplay, all of which makes for a unique and fun gaming experience. The only game that is remotely similar is the Paradise Beach series, although Coconut Queen is far superior, in my opinion.
You are playing as a woman who has been hired to turn a series of islands into resorts. On each level, you are given goals to meet, generally having to do with earning a certain amount of money from rent and concessions and having a certain number of guests. The levels are timed, although the timer is pretty generous. There are a variety of different types of houses to build and upgrade, from simple cabanas to huge hotels. There are also tons of other types of buildings from which to choose, including restaurants, shops, tourist centers, and more. As with other building games, you also have to manage happiness by providing attractions such as umbrellas and hot tubs and minimizing undesirable features. You are free to build your resort and design it in any way that you'd like, which is a great deal of fun. If all of these options sound complicated, don't worry, because the controls are nearly flawless and everything flows organically.
There is a great deal of humor blended into the game, which adds to the fun. Your work is performed by hunky natives who have made you their queen. If you leave the sound on, you are likely to get a laugh out of the things they say as they are assigned to a task.
This game has great replay value, because you can redesign your islands each time you play and figure out different strategies to meet your goals. I have played this at least six times, and will happily play it even more.
The bottom line: Don't pass by this game, as it's a winner for anyone who enjoys time management, building, and strategy games, and for anyone who just enjoys having fun!
I recommend this game!
Create your very own zoo in Simplz:Zoo! Every month is a new challenge as you balance customer wants with the zoo finances!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 42 found this review helpful
A Fantastic, Unique M3/Strategy Game
PostedDecember 6, 2011
CirceMoon
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Simplz: Zoo is without a doubt one of my favorite games ever. It cleverly combines a match-3 game with strategy and simulation elements for a unique gaming experience unlike any other.
In Simplz: Zoo, you inherit a zoo from your grandfather with only one animal, a lion. You are tasked with earning money, food for the animals, conservation points to acquire new animals, resources, and workers by playing match-3 boards. The boards offer the standard challenges (locked pieces, stone tiles to break, etc.) while also offering some new and interesting objectives. For example, on some boards you have to clear a path so an animal can get to its home. On others, you bring boxes down to the bottom to release trees, plants, and other decorative features for your zoo. There is a timer that can be turned on or off at any time.
At the end of every level, you use what you have earned to improve your zoo, with the ultimate aim of having the number one ranked zoo in the world (you are told your rank after each level). There is a great deal of strategy involved -- often you have to build a certain building or acquire a certain animal before you can do other things. In addition, you receive a bonus with each new building or animal you purchase. Sometimes the bonus gives you more resources, other times it activates new power-ups. You have to pay attention to this bonus, as it can influence which upgrade or animal you choose to purchase.
The final element of the game is the simulation aspect. You are free to decorate and design your zoo in any way you see fit. The playing field starts out relatively small, but increases as you upgrade your entrance. By the end of the game, you have a pretty large area for your zoo and tons of different animals and exhibits. It's almost as much fun to build the zoo and watch the animals and visitors as it is to play the match-3 boards!
I personally found the graphics to be very cute and appropriate for the game. Some might find them somewhat childish and make the mistake that this is a kids' game. While kids would certainly enjoy it, the game definitely offers plenty of challenge and enjoyment for adults, particularly if you play in timed mode.
The bottom line: This is a unique, enjoyable game with tons of replay value. I give it my highest recommendation.
I recommend this game!